Designing a virtual preparation and a virtual gingival

ABSTRACT

A computer product for generating a digital 3D model for use in a dental component based on a digital 3D model of the dental component showing a shape of the teeth and a digital 3D representation of a pre-prepared set of teeth showing the region for which the dental component is intended, the product causing a system to generate a digital 3D combined model representing a target dental situation when the dental component is arranged at the teeth, where the instructions are configured for digitally replacing one or more teeth of the digital 3D representation of the pre-prepared set of teeth with the digital 3D model of the dental component by digitally removing the one or more teeth of the digital 3D representation of the pre-prepared set of teeth and adding the digital 3D model of the dental component to the digital 3D representation of the pre-prepared set of teeth.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/705,898, which was filed in the U.S. on Sep. 15, 2017, andwhich is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/881,515,which was filed in the U.S. on Apr. 25, 2013, and which is a nationalstage of PCT International Application No. PCT/DK2011/050409, filed Oct.31, 2011, which claims priority of Danish Patent Application No. PA 201100758, filed Oct. 4, 2011, which claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 61/542,682, filed Oct. 3, 2011, which claimspriority of Danish Patent Application No. PA 2011 00088, filed Feb. 10,2011, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 61/441,373, filed Feb. 10, 2011 which claims priority of DanishPatent Application No. PA 2010 00982, filed Oct. 29, 2010, and whichclaims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.61/408,026, filed Oct. 29, 2010. The subject matter of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/881,515; PCT International Application No.PCT/DK2011/050409; Danish Patent Application No. PA 2011 00758; U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/542,682; Danish Patent ApplicationNo. PA 2011 00088; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/441,373,Danish Patent Application No. PA 2010 00982, and U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/408,026 are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to a system and a method which can beused in relation to designing a dental component for a region on apatient's set of teeth. More particularly, the invention relates toobtaining a digital 3D representation of at least the region of thepatient's set of teeth, where the digital 3D representation is based ona 3D scan.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

WO10105628 discloses a method for planning, visualizing, and/oroptimizing dental restoration on at least a part of the pre-preparedteeth of a patient, wherein said method comprises the steps of:

-   -   providing at least one 3D digital model of at least a part of        the pre-prepared teeth;    -   designing at least one dental restoration CAD model based on the        3D digital model of at least a part of the pre-prepared teeth;    -   providing at least one 3D digital model of at least a part of        the prepared teeth, where the prepared teeth are provided by        preparing the pre-prepared teeth by dental restorative work, at        least partly based on the dental restoration CAD model; and    -   aligning the 3D models of the pre-prepared and the prepared        teeth.

WO09146164A discloses a method of creating a 3-D anatomic digital modelfor determining a desired location for placing at least one dentalimplant in a patient's mouth. The method comprises the act of obtaininga first dataset associated with hard tissue of the patient's mouth. Themethod further comprises the act of obtaining a second datasetassociated with soft tissue of the patient's mouth. The method furthercomprises the act of combining the first dataset and the second datasetto create a detailed structure of hard tissue and soft tissue havingvariable dimensions over the hard tissue.

US2004081938A discloses that a computer obtains a digital model of apatient's dentition, including a dental model representing the patient'steeth at a set of initial positions and a gingival model representinggum tissue surrounding the teeth. The computer then derives from thedigital model an expected deformation of the gum tissue as the teethmove from the initial positions to another set of positions.

It remains a problem to provide improved planning and virtual designingof a dental component, such as a restoration, a temporary restoration ora diagnostic wax-up, for a patient.

SUMMARY

Disclosed is a method for generating a 3D virtual model of a dentalcomponent for a region of a patient's set of teeth, where the dentalcomponent comprises a temporary bridge restoration or a diagnosticwax-up bridge, such that the dental component comprises crowns and atleast one pontic, wherein the method comprises:

-   -   obtaining a digital 3D representation of the set of teeth, where        the digital 3D representation is based on a 3D scan of a        pre-prepared configuration of the set of teeth;    -   virtually sectioning the part of the digital 3D representation        corresponding to the teeth in said region using at least one 3D        sectioning spline;    -   determining at least part of the inter-proximal surfaces of the        virtually sectioned teeth; and    -   determining a jaw-facing surface for the dental component, where        the jaw-facing surface is configured for facing a surface which        is not available in the digital 3D representation of the        pre-prepared set of teeth.

When discussing a relation between a feature of the dental component anda part of the patient's set of teeth, such as pre-prepared or preparedteeth or the gingival, it is contemplated that the dental component isarranged in relation to the patient's set of teeth. This may be the casefor the virtual 3D model of the dental component and a digital 3Drepresentation of the set of teeth, as well as for the manufactureddental model and the patient's set of teeth.

In the context of the present invention, the phrase “the surface whichis not available in the 3D representation of the pre-prepared set ofteeth” may be the surface of a tooth after its preparation for acceptinga crown, such as a crown of a bridge restoration, or the surface of thegingival after a tooth has been extracted to make place for the ponticpart of a bridge restoration. In relation to the gingival, the surfacemay be as it is just after the removal of a tooth, or some timethereafter such that the gingival has had time to heal.

The virtually sectioning the part of the digital 3D representationcorresponding to the teeth in said region using at least one 3Dsectioning spline may comprise using a separate 3D sectioning spline foreach tooth which is sectioned, or using a 3D sectioning spline which isfor sectioning two or more teeth. The 3D sectioning spline may enclose agroup of teeth, such that the 3D sectioning spline extends over the mostdistant inter-proximal surfaces in the group of teeth.

The region of a patient's set of teeth may comprise teeth which are tobe extracted and replaced by a pontic, and teeth that are to be preparedfor accepting a crown portion of e.g. a temporary bridge restoration.

Similar to a permanent bridge restoration a temporary bridge restorationand a diagnostic wax-up bridge may comprise at least one pontic andcrowns for anchoring the dental component in the patient's mouth, suchas for anchoring the dental component on teeth that are prepared foraccepting a crown. The pontic may provide a dental restoration for abroken or dead tooth, while the neighboring teeth are to be prepared foraccepting the crowns of the bridge.

In the context of the present invention, the phrase “jaw-facing surface”may refer to a surface of a dental component facing the jaw at which thedental component is configured to be arranged at.

The jaw-facing surface of the dental component may also be referred toas the edge of the dental component, such that e.g. the phrase “thepontic edge” can be used in relation to the jaw-facing surface of thepontic.

In the case of a pontic of a dental bridge, the jaw-facing surface ofthe dental component may be the surface facing the gingival. Thejaw-facing surface may then also be referred to as the tissue facingsurface, or the basal side or surface of the pontic. The basal surfaceof the pontic may also be referred to as the tissue facing surface ofthe pontic.

The phrase “edge” used in relation to a given element, such as thegingival or a dental component or part of such a dental component, mayrefer to a surface of the element.

In the case of a crown part of the dental component, the jaw-facingsurface may be that which faces and engages the corresponding tooth oncethis has been prepared for accepting the crown. For a crown, thejaw-facing surface may also be referred to as the cervical surface ofthe crown and/or of the dental component.

The real or virtual surface of the gingival at the locations of themouth where tooth normally are present may be referred to as thegingival edge. In the context of the present invention, the gingivaledge may be the part of a virtually designed or a physical gingivalwhich is to be faced by a jaw-facing surface of the dental component.The jaw-facing surface of a pontic can also be referred to as the basalsurface. The jaw-facing surface of a crown may be referred to as thecervical part of the crown.

In the context of the present invention, determining a surface is takento mean that the surface is virtually generated, e.g. by using curvaturebased computer implemented algorithms.

In some embodiments, the 3D virtual model of a dental componentcomprises a dental restoration CAD model.

The virtual preparation may be provided as a “dental preparation CADmodel”.

An inter-proximal surface of a tooth in the digital 3D representation isa surface on a proximal side of tooth, i.e. a surface which faces aneighboring tooth such that the inter-proximal surface cannot bedetected in the 3D scan of the teeth in their pre-preparedconfiguration.

One advantage of the method for generating a 3D virtual model of adental component from an obtained digital 3D representation of apre-prepared set of teeth is that the dental component can be designedbefore a decision to treat the patient's set of teeth is made and/orbefore the set of teeth is prepared for the dental component asdescribed in the following example: When the dental component e.g. is atemporary bridge restoration the physical component should preferably beavailable immediately after the set of teeth is prepared by e.g.preparing teeth for accepting a crown part of the bridge. The 3D virtualmodel of the dental component should preferably be generated to providethat a physical dental component manufactured from the correspondingvirtual model can be arranged in the patient's mouth after the set ofteeth has been prepared by extraction of a tooth and/or the preparationof teeth. By virtually removing the relevant teeth of the digital 3Drepresentation of the set of teeth based on a 3D sectioning spline thedigital 3D representation can be combined with a virtual diagnosticwax-up showing a desired shape of the teeth of the dental component. Thecombined model with the digital 3D representation and the virtualdiagnostic wax-up can be visualized such that the patient can get animpression of the expected outcome of the dental restorative work beforestarting the dental restorative work. The combined model may bemanufactured by direct digital manufacturing such as 3D printing toprovide a physical representation of the target configuration of theteeth. From the combined model the dental component can be designed bye.g. adding virtual preparations and virtual gingival to the digital 3Drepresentation from which the relevant teeth are virtually removed asdescribed herein.

Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a dental component or a physicalmodel of the dental component, where the method comprises:

-   -   generating a 3D virtual model of the dental component using the        method according to the present invention; and    -   manufacturing the dental component or the physical model of the        dental component based on the 3D virtual model by direct digital        manufacturing, such as by 3D printing or milling.

Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a combined model for use inplanning, visualization and manufacturing of a bridge restoration, wherethe method comprises:

-   -   obtaining a digital 3D representation of a pre-prepared set of        teeth showing the region for which the bridge restoration is        intended;    -   providing a virtual diagnostic wax-up for the teeth of the        bridge restoration;    -   generating a 3D virtual combined model by virtually replacing        one or more teeth of the digital 3D representation of the        pre-prepared set of teeth with corresponding teeth of the        virtual diagnostic wax-up; and    -   manufacturing the combined model from the 3D virtual combined        model by direct digital manufacturing, such as by 3D printing or        milling.

The bridge restoration may be a permanent bridge restoration or atemporary bridge restoration.

The virtual diagnostic wax-up for the teeth of the bridge restorationmay comprise at least two crowns surrounding one pontic adapted toreplace a tooth which is to be extracted from the set of teeth.

Disclosed is a system for manufacturing a dental component, where thedental component comprises a temporary bridge restoration or adiagnostic wax-up bridge for a region of a patient's set of teeth suchthat the dental component comprises crowns and at least one pontic, saidsystem comprising

-   -   a non-transitory computer readable medium having one or more        computer instructions stored thereon, where said computer        instructions comprises instructions for generating a 3D virtual        model of the dental component, where said generating comprises        virtually sectioning the part of an obtained digital 3D        representation corresponding to the teeth in said region using        at least one 3D sectioning spline, determining at least part of        the inter-proximal surfaces of the virtually sectioned teeth,        and determining a jaw-facing surface for the dental component,        where the jaw-facing surface is configured for facing a surface        which is not available in the 3D representation; and    -   a manufacturing device configured for manufacturing the dental        component from said 3D virtual model.

The system may comprise a scanner device configured for obtaining adigital 3D representation of a set of teeth, such as an intra-oralscanner. The system may comprise a visual display unit and data entryunits, such as a computer mouse and a keyboard.

Disclosed is a computer program product comprising program code meansfor causing a data processing system to perform the method of thepresent invention when said program code means are executed on the dataprocessing system.

The computer program product may comprise a computer-readable mediumhaving stored there on the program code means.

Disclosed is a method of designing a dental component for at least aregion of a patient's set of teeth, wherein the method comprises:

-   -   obtaining a digital 3D representation of at least the region of        the patient's set of teeth, where the digital 3D representation        is based on a 3D scan, and where the teeth and gingival in the        3D representation are configured to be distinguished from each        other;    -   virtually designing the dental component;        where at least part of the dental component is designed based on        at least a part of the gingival in the 3D representation; and    -   obtaining a 3D virtual model of the dental component.

Consequently, it is an advantage that that a dental component, such as arestoration, a temporary, a diagnostic wax-up, and/or such as a part ofa restoration, e.g. a pontic in a bridge, can be designed based on thegingival of the 3D representation of the teeth region.

The 3D representation of the teeth may be in the form of a 3D model ofthe teeth. Thus the 3D representation, e.g. a as 3D model, comprisesteeth and gingival. The teeth and the gingival can be distinguished fromeach other, such as divided, segmented, separated, segregated, split up,detached etc. The distinguishing or separation may be performed by meansof the 3D geometry, by means of features in the 3D representation, bymeans of textural features such as color, surface sensation, feeling,look, appearance, or structures, by means of definition of margin linesand/or other lines or curves etc. The margin lines or other lines orcurves may be the lines and curves at the transition between teeth andgingival etc.

In some embodiments the dental component is a restoration, a temporaryrestoration or a diagnostic wax-up.

In some embodiments the part of the dental component designed based onat least part of the gingival is a crown, a coping, a pontic, a bridgeetc.

In some embodiments, the determined jaw-facing surface comprises thejaw-facing surface of the pontic of said dental component, i.e. thebasal surface of the pontic.

In some embodiments, the jaw-facing surface comprises the jaw-facingsurface of a least one of the crowns of said dental component.

In some embodiments, determining the jaw-facing surface comprisesestimating at least a part of the surface which is not available in the3D representation, such that the jaw-facing surface can be based on theestimated surface.

Estimating the part of a surface which is not available in the 3D maycomprise determining the surface, calculating the surface or providing afirst approximation of the surface from e.g. a library.

In some embodiments, the method comprises generating a virtual gingival.

In some embodiments, at least a part, such as the basal surface of thepontic of the dental component is designed based on the virtualgingival.

In some embodiments, the basal surface of the pontic is shaped accordingto the virtual gingival at the position in the digital 3D representationcorresponding to where the pontic is to be arranged.

In a pontic, the jaw-facing surface may be designed to follow thegingival below the pontic. This may be provided by designing the basalsurface of the 3D virtual model of the dental component to follow theshape of the virtual gingival over at least a part of the jaw-facingsurface.

In some embodiments, the virtual gingival is generated based on thedigital 3D representation, such as based on the gingival part of thedigital 3D representation in the region of said tooth. In someembodiments the method thus comprises designing a virtual gingival basedon the gingival in the 3D representation, whereby the dental componentmay be designed based on the virtual gingival.

The virtual gingival may be generated at the position in the digital 3Drepresentation corresponding to the position at which the pontic is tobe arranged when the dental component is arranged in the patient'smouth.

If a digital 3D representation of the set of teeth from which a toothhas been virtually removed and replaced by a virtual gingival and agenerated 3D virtual model of a dental component with one pontic arealigned according to their relative arrangement in the patient's mouth,the basal surface of the pontic and the virtual gingival may face eachother.

In some embodiments, the 3D sectioning spline for a tooth is adapted toextend over at least one inter-proximal surface of that tooth.

The 3D sectioning spline may be defined automatically using a computerimplemented sectioning spline generating algorithm.

In some embodiments, the method comprises manually defining the 3Dsectioning spline or manually adjusting an automatically generated 3Dsectioning spline.

In some embodiments, manually defining the 3D sectioning spline ormanually adjusting an automatically generated 3D sectioning spline isbased on sectioning spline control points used to control the shape ofthe 3D sectioning spline.

In the sectioning of the digital 3D representation, the 3D sectioningspline may be defined to follow the gingival at the tooth or teeth whichare being sectioned.

At least a section of the 3D sectioning spline for a tooth may beconfigured to be shaped according to an expected shape of the marginline that is generated when the tooth is prepared. That is, in both thecase where the 3D sectioning spline is automatically generated and whenit is defined manually it may be arranged to follow a path along whichthe operator plans to define the margin line of a tooth.

In some embodiments, the method comprises generating a virtualpreparation for the tooth.

The virtual preparation may be defined from the virtual diagnosticwax-up and/or the digital 3D representation of the pre-prepared set ofteeth.

The crown part of the dental component can be generated taking intoaccount a virtual preparation of a tooth such that the cervical surfaceand/or the portion of the crown surface which mates with the preparedtooth are generated from the virtual preparation.

In some embodiments, the boundary of the cervical surface of a crownpart of the dental component is derived from said virtual margin line ofthe corresponding tooth.

In a combined model of the digital 3D representation and a virtualdiagnostic wax-up, a boundary of the diagnostic wax-up can be definedfrom the projection of the virtual margin line onto the virtualdiagnostic wax-up. The boundary of the jaw-facing surface of one part ofthe dental component may be derived from said virtual margin line ofsaid part.

In some embodiments the method comprises generating a virtual marginline for a virtual preparation of at least one tooth in the digital 3Drepresentation. The virtual margin line may be arranged sub-gingival,supra-gingival or along the margin line of the pre-prepared tooth.

The virtual margin line of one or more teeth may be derived from thedigital 3D representation of the set of teeth.

In some embodiments, the virtual margin line for a tooth is visualizedtogether with a virtual 3D model of the tooth. The virtual 3D model ofthe tooth may be provided by the virtually segmenting of the tooth fromthe digital 3D representation of the set of teeth and the defining ofthe interproximal surfaces of the tooth.

At least a section of the virtual margin line of a tooth preparation maybe substantially aligned with the 3D sectioning spline used forsectioning the corresponding tooth.

In some embodiments the boundary of the jaw-facing surface of oneportion of the dental component is derived from said virtual margin lineof said portion.

The portion of the dental component may relate to one or more teeth ofthe set of teeth. For a bridge restoration the dental component is oftendesigned to engage two teeth and replace one or more teeth with pontics.

In some embodiments, the method comprises virtually removing one or moreteeth from the digital 3D representation, such as a tooth which is to bereplaced by the pontic or a tooth which is to be prepared for acceptinga crown. The portion of the digital 3D representation of the set ofteeth which is deleted when virtually removing the tooth may be definedand bounded by the 3D sectioning spline.

In some embodiments the method comprises replacing the virtually removedtooth with the virtual preparation in the digital 3D representation ofthe set of teeth.

In some embodiments, a part of the dental component is designed based onthe virtual preparation.

The virtual preparation provides a 3D model of one section of thesurface which is not available in the digital 3D representation of thepre-prepared set of teeth, from which surface the jaw-facing surface fora crown part of the dental component may be determined.

It may be advantageous to define the jaw-facing surface of a crown partof the dental component from a virtual preparation of the tooth that thecrown part is intended to mate with. When defining the jaw-facingsurface from the virtual preparation, the jaw-facing surface mayimmediately be configured for mating with a tooth prepared according tothe virtual preparation.

However, the jaw-facing surface of the crown may also be defined withouttaking into account a virtual preparation of the tooth. In someembodiments, the jaw-facing surface is defined before a virtualpreparation is generated. When a jaw-facing surface has been generated,the virtual preparation may be defined based on this jaw-facing surface.

The virtual gingival provides a 3D model of one section of the surfacewhich is not available in the digital 3D representation of thepre-prepared set of teeth, from which surface the jaw-facing surface fora pontic part of the dental component may be determined.

In some embodiments, the virtual margin line for a tooth is based on the3D sectioning spline used for sectioning that tooth. It may hence beadvantageous that the 3D sectioning spline is made to follow a pathwhich resembles a realistic margin line, such as e.g. a pathsubstantially following the gingival at the tooth.

The virtual gingival may be bounded by the 3D sectioning spline, suchthat a generated 3D sectioning spline defines the perimeter of thevirtual gingival. The shape of the virtual gingival over the surfaceenclosed by the boundary may be transferred to the jaw-facing surface ofthe corresponding pontic. The transfer may be such that the jaw-facingsurface is shaped substantially as the virtual gingival or modificationsmay be made to the shape before or after the transfer.

The jaw-facing surface of the pontic may also be defined without takinginto account a virtual gingival. In some embodiments, a virtual gingivalis generated after the definition of the jaw-facing surface of thepontic e.g. to verify that the shape of the jaw-facing surface meets oneor more criteria. When a jaw-facing surface of the pontic has beengenerated, the virtual gingival may be defined based on this jaw-facingsurface.

In some embodiments, the method comprises projecting the virtual marginline onto the portion of the virtual diagnostic wax-up corresponding tothat tooth. The generating of the 3D virtual model of the dentalcomponent may then be based on this projection. The projection maydefine the boundary of the jaw-facing surface of the portion of thedental component.

The projection of the virtual margin line onto the virtual diagnosticwax-up may involve an alignment of the virtual diagnostic wax-up and thedigital 3D representation of the teeth such that the teeth of thevirtual diagnostic wax-up are aligned with the digital 3D representationof the set of teeth. Teeth may be removed virtually and virtualpreparations and virtual gingival may be added to the digital 3Drepresentation before or after the alignment. The virtual diagnosticwax-up and the digital 3D representation may intersect at the locationwhere the virtual margin line is intended to be defined such that theprojection relates to a registration of the intersection.

The projection of the virtual margin line onto the virtual diagnosticwax-up may be modified manually by an operator to ensure that the dentalcomponent is designed according to comply with material or aestheticalrequirements.

In some embodiments the method comprises generating a 3D virtualcombined model by virtually replacing one or more teeth of the digital3D representation with teeth according to the virtual diagnostic wax-up.

In some embodiments, the method comprises hole-closure of the combinedmodel such that holes appearing at the location where the diagnosticwax-up and the digital 3D representation connect are closed. With thehole-closure, a so-called watertight combined model may be obtained.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises manufacturing aphysical combined model from the 3D virtual combined model by directdigital manufacturing, such as by 3D printing or milling.

In some embodiments the virtual margin line for a tooth, i.e. for thevirtual preparation of that tooth, is substantially identical to the 3Dsectioning spline for that tooth.

In some embodiments the virtual margin line for a tooth is generated byoffsetting the 3D sectioning spline for that tooth. The offset may bealong the surface of the tooth towards or away from the occlusal surfaceof the tooth.

The virtual margin line may enclose a group of teeth comprising two ormore teeth, such that the virtual margin line extends over the mostdistant inter-proximal surface in the group of teeth.

The boundary of the jaw-facing surface of one portion of the dentalcomponent may mark the border between the anatomical surface and thejaw-facing of the portion of the dental component.

For a pontic of a bridge restoration, the boundary may comprise a borderbetween the tissue facing surface and the anatomical surface of thepontic.

For a crown of a bridge restoration, the boundary may comprise a borderbetween the cervical surface engaging a prepared tooth and theanatomical surface of the crown.

In some embodiments, the virtual margin line for a tooth is configuredto extend over the inter-proximal surface of said tooth. This may beadvantageous as it provides the option of generating the virtualpreparation with a well-defined margin line.

In some embodiments the virtual margin line is defined from theintersection of the virtual diagnostic wax-up and the digital 3Drepresentation of the set of teeth in the combined model.

The jaw-facing surface of one part of the dental component may bederived from said virtual margin line of said part.

In the combined model, the virtual diagnostic wax-up and the digital 3Drepresentation may not intersect over the entire surface of a giventooth in the virtual diagnostic wax-up. This may for instance occur ifthe 3D sectioning spline is defined on the gingival or when the virtualdiagnostic wax-up comprises teeth which are smaller than the originalteeth of the patient. In such a situation it may be advantageous todefine a boundary of the diagnostic wax-up from the projection of thevirtual margin line onto the virtual diagnostic wax-up. This boundarymay represent the perimeter of the cervical edge of a crown part or theperimeter of the basal side of a pontic part of the dental component.

In the combined model, holes appearing between the virtual diagnosticwax-up and the digital 3D representation of the set of teeth may beclosed using various hole-closing algorithms, and the virtual marginline may be determined in least in part from the surface formed to closethese holes.

The digital 3D representation from which teeth are virtually removed andreplaced by virtual preparations and virtual gingival, can be virtuallyaligned with the virtual diagnostic wax-up. The resulting combined modelcan be visualized on a computer screen such that an operator can definethe virtual margin line from the visualization. The intersections canalso be derived using computer based algorithms. Holes in the combinedmodel can also be visualized and identified in this way.

In some embodiments, the virtual margin line is automatically defined.The automatic definition of the virtual margin line may be based oncomputer implemented algorithms configured for identifying structures ina virtual model, such as the transition between tooth surface andgingival in a virtual model of the patient's set of teeth.

In some embodiments the virtual margin line is manually defined orwherein a section of an automatically generated virtual margin line isadjusted manually.

In some embodiments at least one anatomical surface of the 3D virtualmodel of the dental component is derived from the shape of the teeth inthe pre-prepared configuration. The shape of the teeth in thepre-prepared configuration may be as seen in the digital 3Drepresentation.

In some embodiments at least one anatomical surface of the 3D virtualmodel of the dental component is derived from the shape of the teeth inthe virtual diagnostic wax-up.

In some embodiments the method comprises visualizing at least onevirtual preparation using a visual display unit, such as a computerscreen.

In some embodiments, the method comprises trimming the digital 3Drepresentation of the set of teeth.

Trimming of the digital 3D representation can be realized by deletingdata points from the digital 3D representation and/or by smoothingsurfaces if the digital 3D representation. The trimming may beconfigured to provide that the manufacturing of a physical model of theset of teeth is made easier and/or that it can be manufactured usingless material.

In some embodiments the inter-proximal surfaces are generated usingpolynomial algorithms to provide a realistic presentation of thesesurfaces.

In some embodiments the method comprises determining a target insertiondirection for the dental component. The target insertion direction canbe determined by an operator using e.g. a pointing tool, such as acomputer mouse, to manipulate a representation of the insertiondirection relative to the digital 3D representation of the set of teethor relative to the combined model.

In some embodiments, the 3D virtual model of the dental component isgenerated taking into account the target insertion direction for thedental component. For a crown part of a dental component, the targetinsertion direction can be taken into account by arranging e.g. thecervical surface of the crown such that undercuts are avoided.

In some embodiments the virtual preparation is shaped according to thisinsertion direction.

The orientation and location of the preparations may be importantespecially for dental components such as a bridge where the two crownsmust be capable of being inserted simultaneously.

In some embodiments, the crown parts of the dental component are shapedaccording to an egg-shell configuration.

In the egg-shell configuration thickness of the crown's shell issubstantially constant over the major part of its surface. The egg-shellconfiguration has the advantage due to the large void inside the tooth,the requirements to the precision of the preparation of the teeth isreduced.

In some embodiments, the method is computer-implemented or at least anumber of the steps of the method are computer-implemented.

In some embodiments the method comprises modifying the digital 3Drepresentation of the set of teeth by virtually replacing one or moreteeth of the digital 3D representation with virtual preparations, andgenerating the 3D virtual model of the temporary bridge restoration withthe crown parts corresponding to the prepared teeth. The 3D virtualmodel of the temporary bridge restoration may be generated at leastpartly from the virtual diagnostic wax-up.

In some embodiments, the method comprises manufacturing a physical modelfrom the modified digital 3D representation of the set of teeth and/orthe 3D virtual model of the temporary bridge restoration by directdigital manufacturing, such as by 3D printing or milling. The result ofthis may be a physical model with virtual preparations and a separatelymilled temporary bridge restoration, where these can be used forvisualizing an expected outcome of the restorative work.

In some embodiments, the method comprises confirming the occlusion ofthe set of teeth when the dental restoration is arranged at the teeth.

If a patient wishes to have a dental restoration, he will see a dentist.The patient may wish to have his teeth restored, if he for example has abroken tooth. In the first visit at the dentists, the dentist mayperform an intra oral scanning in the patient's mouth or the dentist maytake an impression of the mouth. The impression may then be scanned, ora model may be casted from the impression, and then the model may bescanned. The 3D scanning, either the intra oral scanning, the scanningof the impression or model, will provide a digital 3D representationalso known as a 3D virtual or digital model of the patient's teeth.Based on this 3D virtual model, e.g. a dental technician may design atemporary prosthesis, e.g. a temporary bridge, and the temporaryprosthesis may be manufactured. At the second visit at the dentist, thedentist for example removes the broken tooth and prepares the twoneighbor teeth by grinding them so that a crown in a bridge can beattached to each of the prepared teeth. The dentist then again performse.g. an intra-oral scanning or takes an impression for capturing thepatient's teeth after the removal of the broken tooth and after thepreparation of the neighbor teeth. The temporary prosthesis in the formof e.g. a bridge can then be attached temporarily on the two preparedteeth and in between the crowns a pontic is present which replaces thebroken tooth. If an impression is made, the impression is scanned or themodel created from the impression is scanned. The scanning, either theintra oral scanning, the scanning of the impression or model, willprovide a 3D virtual or digital model of the patient's teeth. Based onthis 3D virtual model, e.g. a dental technician may design apermanent/lasting/final prosthesis, e.g. a permanent bridge, and thepermanent prosthesis may be manufactured. At the third visit at thedentist, the dentist removes the temporary prosthesis and attaches thepermanent prosthesis in the patient's mouth. The prosthesis may be abridge which can be attached permanently on the two prepared teeth andin between the crowns a pontic is present which replaces the brokentooth. The place of the broken tooth may be called the extraction wound.

The gingival may fall down into the extraction wound or be disruptedwhen a tooth is gone, removed, cut down etc., and thus a temporary isdesigned such that the mouth/smile of the patient looks nice when thetemporary is worn and before the real/final restoration is produced andarranged. Thus the temporary may be designed such that it covers or fitsto the gingival which has fallen into the extraction wound or has beendisrupted. Thus the pontic part of the temporary may be bigger thanusual because of the extraction wound or hole and because the gingivalhas falling down into it.

Over time the bone under the gingival will build up again, and for thefinal restoration the pontic part may thus not need to be so big.

The method relates to restorations and prosthesis, e.g. temporaries, andto prostheses for the gingival.

In some embodiments the method comprises designing the edge of thedental component adjacent to the gingival part.

In some embodiments the method comprises designing the virtual gingivalby using one or more planes or curves.

In some embodiments the method comprises designing the virtual gingivalto be convex or concave in shape. The virtual gingival may be designedto have a convex or concave shape along and/or perpendicular to thedental arch.

In some embodiments the method comprises designing the virtual gingivalby means of a gingival template, i.e. the virtual gingival is selectedfrom a library of gingival profile templates.

In some embodiments, the virtual gingival is generated by freeformmodeling using flexible sculpt tools. An operator may for example use acomputer pointing tool, such as a computer mouse, to adjust the shape ofa virtual 3D model of the virtual gingival by changing the relativepositions of control points used to control the shape of the virtual 3Dmodel.

In some embodiments the gingival template comprises at least threepoints configured for sculpting the gingival.

In some embodiments the selected virtual gingival is modified to fit thepatient's set of teeth.

When the virtual gingival is adapted to replace a virtually removedtooth in the digital 3D representation of the set of teeth, the virtualgingival may be adapted to close the hole in the digital 3Drepresentation resulting from the virtual removal of the tooth.

In some embodiments the method comprises virtually removing a tooth fromthe 3D representation, where the tooth is positioned in the place wherea pontic of the dental component is configured to be arranged. The partof the digital 3D representation corresponding to the tooth mayidentified by the 3D sectioning spline.

In some embodiments the method comprises virtually removing the toothbefore designing the virtual gingival.

In some embodiments the method comprises replacing the virtually removedtooth with the virtual gingival, in the digital 3D representation of theset of teeth.

In some embodiments, the method comprises providing a diagnostic wax-upfor the teeth of the dental component.

In some embodiments, the dental component is a temporary restorationbridge and the method comprises providing a diagnostic wax-up for theteeth of the temporary restoration bridge.

In some embodiments the method comprises virtually arranging a pontic inthe place of a tooth.

In some embodiments the method comprises defining a gap between the edgeof the pontic and the adjacent gingival. This gap may be denoted as thebasal gap.

The traditional way of making temporary restorations or prosthesis for apatient may comprise taking an impression of the teeth, casting aphysical model of the teeth from the impression, preparing the brokentooth on the physical model, and building up the temporary on the model.This method is very time consuming, and the final design of therestoration cannot be made using the temporary design. Alternatively,the dentist can build up the temporary directly in the mouth of thepatient. This method may be faster, but it may be very uncomfortable forthe patient to have the temporary build up in his mouth, and again thefinal design of the restoration cannot be made using the temporarydesign. Thus when making the final design, the dental technician has tostart all over as he cannot reuse the design he already made for thetemporary restoration.

Disclosed is a computer-implemented method of designing a dentalcomponent for a region on a patient's set of teeth, wherein the methodcomprises the steps of:

-   -   obtaining a digital 3D representation of at least the region of        the patient's set of teeth, where the digital 3D representation        is based on a 3D scan;    -   determining at least part of a surface which is not available in        the 3D representation;    -   virtually designing a preparation in the region of the patient's        set of teeth for the dental component; and    -   obtaining a 3D virtual model of the dental component.

Consequently, it is an advantage that a virtual preparation is designed,whereby a real preparation of the tooth or teeth is not performed,before the patient has accepted the design of both the dental componente.g. a restoration, and of the preparation to be performed. Thus it isan advantage that the patient can see a virtual design of thepreparation and of the dental component, before having the preparationmade.

Furthermore, it is an advantage that a 3D representation produced from a3D scan of the relevant region can be used to design a virtualpreparation for the relevant region. This ensures that the virtualpreparation will actually fit to the real case, if the virtualpreparation is used to perform a physical preparation on a tooth orteeth in the patient's mouth.

Often there are surfaces of the teeth that the 3D scan cannot capture,such as a proximal side of tooth or a sub-gingival part of a tooth, andit is an advantage that these surfaces can be determined, calculated,and/or estimated and thus used in designing the preparation, and/or thedental component, such as a restoration, a temporary restoration or adiagnostic wax-up etc. Thus the surface may be a surface of a tooth.Determining at least part of a surface which is not available in the 3Drepresentation may also mean that it is a surface that does not exist,and thus the determination of a surface may means the designing of asurface, such as the designing of the dental component.

The surface which is not available in the 3D representation may not bepresent in the pre-prepared set of teeth, that is the surface does notexist when the 3D scan of the set of teeth is obtained, For instance inthe case where a dead or damaged tooth is to be extracted to providespace for a pontic of a bridge, the surface will first appear after thetooth has been extracted. The surface which is not available in the 3Drepresentation may also be the surface that emerges after the gingivalis healed after the extraction of a tooth.

Referring to a surface as not being available in the digital 3Drepresentation does not exclude that the surface is generated to becomepart of the digital 3D representation by generating e.g. a virtualgingival. The phrase may refer to the situation where the surface couldnot be detected in the 3D scan, such as when the surface did not existwhen the 3D scan was performed.

In prior art there may be no sub-gingival information of the tooth, nosurface extrapolation of un-known surfaces, no design based on a CADdrawing or design of a new teeth, no morphing from a virtual design butonly morphing from the 3D scan, and only changes made to the outsideshape of scan etc.

The present invention may relate to virtually designing a preparation,not performing the real preparation.

The patient's teeth before any treatment has been applied can be denotedpre-prepared teeth. However, the pre-prepared teeth may also be thepatient's teeth prior to the preparation work that is often requiredprior to a dental restoration. Therefore the pre-prepared teeth may havereceived some, typically minor, treatment, such as cleaning, polishing,minor grinding and/or the like, but the pre-prepared teeth have not beenprepared for a dental restoration. A preparation for a dentalrestoration typically requires grinding, drilling, removal, endodontictreatment and/or the like, of relevant tooth/teeth.

The phrase pre-prepared teeth may also be used in relation to a set ofteeth wherein dental work has already been made on the teeth that arenot part of said region, i.e. the dental component may have been madealready have been prepared in earlier dental work on the patient's otherteeth.

The phrase pre-prepared configuration of the set of teeth is also usedin this application in relation to pre-prepared teeth.

It is an advantage of the present invention that many different kinds ofinformation, such as scan data, 3D CAD design may be used to design andfinally obtain a 3D virtual model of a dental component to be insertedor arranged in the mouth of a patient, either temporarily orpermanently.

Determining at least part of a surface and/or designing a featurecomprises determining and/or designing the shape of the surface.

The virtual designs may be CAD designs.

The steps of the method may be performed wholly or partly by an operatoror user and/or wholly or partly performed automatically by theprocessing means of a computer program.

The diagnostic component can e.g. be a restoration produced because atooth is broken, missing, should be “turned” etc.

Thus in some embodiments determining at least part of a surface notavailable in the 3D representation comprises virtually designing atleast a part of the dental component.

In some embodiments the surface which is not available in the 3Drepresentation is at least a part of the dental component beingdesigned.

In some embodiments the surface which is not available in the 3Drepresentation is an existing part of patient's set of teeth.

In some embodiments determining at least part of a surface which is notavailable in the 3D representation comprises determining a proximal sideof a tooth.

In the context of the present invention, the phrases “proximal side of atooth” and inter-proximal surface of a tooth are used interchangeably.

In some embodiments determining at least part of a surface which is notavailable in the 3D representation comprises determining a sub-gingivaltooth part.

A sub-gingival determination or extrapolation may be particularlyrelevant to obtain when designing crowns or temporary crowns.

In some embodiments determining at least part of a surface which is notavailable in the 3D representation is based on the 3D representation.

In some embodiments determining at least part of a surface which is notavailable in the 3D representation is based on the shape of neighborteeth, and/or based on a default restoration.

In some embodiments determining at least part of a surface which is notavailable in the 3D representation is based on estimation byextrapolation of the 3D representation of the tooth.

In some embodiments the virtual design of at least part of dentalcomponent and/or of the preparation is based on at least part of thesurface which is not available in the 3D representation.

In some embodiments the preparation is designed first, and at least partof the dental component is then designed based on the preparation.

In some embodiments the dental component is automatically derived whenthe preparation is designed.

In some embodiments at least part of the dental component is designedfirst, and the preparation is then designed based on the at least partof the dental component.

In some embodiments the preparation is automatically derived when atleast part of the dental component is designed.

In some embodiments the preparation is designed or derived from theinternal part of the dental component, such as the internal part of acrown.

In some embodiments the dental component is a restoration and/or atemporary restoration and/or a diagnostic wax-up.

A diagnostic wax-up may be produced for showing the patient how the newteeth will look before the actual preparation of his teeth. A temporaryor a temporary restoration is worn by the patient after the preparationis done and before the real or permanent restoration has been produced.

A diagnostic wax-up may be particularly relevant when designing e.g.veneers, and for designing veneers sub-gingival surface information orextrapolation may not be used.

In some embodiments the temporary restoration and/or restoration is acrown, a bridge, an implant and/or a veneer. A crown may also be denoteda coping. A veneer or veneering may be made on a coping.

In some embodiments the crown comprises an internal part and an externalpart. The internal part of the crown may be denoted a coping.

In some embodiments the shape of the internal part of the crown is equalto the shape of the preparation.

In some embodiments a cement space is defined between the internal partof the crown and the preparation.

In some embodiments the method further comprises designing structures inthe inside surface of the crown.

It is an advantage that the inside surface of the crown, the internalpart of the crown and/or the coping comprises structures, because bymeans of the structures the crown may be attached better, easier,faster, and/or more robust to the preparation when gluing or cementingthe crown on the preparation. The structures may also be denotedretention grids.

In some embodiments the structures are shaped as grooves.

The grooves may be vertically relative to the insertion direction of thecrown. It is an advantage to provide vertical grooves in the insidesurface, since vertical grooves may be easy to manufacture, both for aperson and for a machine, such as milling machine or a 3D printer.Furthermore vertical grooves may provide a good attachment to thesurface of the preparation.

In some embodiments the method further comprises determining andvisualizing a virtual margin line.

The virtual margin line may relate to one or more teeth in the set ofteeth.

In some embodiments the method further comprises determining the virtualmargin line from the 3D representation of the region of the patient'sset of teeth.

In some embodiments the method further comprises arranging the virtualmargin line to lie on the determined surface which was not available inthe 3D representation.

In some embodiments the method further comprises connecting the virtualpreparation with relevant available and/or estimated parts of a tooth inthe region of the patient's set of teeth.

In some embodiments the method further comprises virtually snapping thepreparation to the surface of the least one tooth in the region of thepatient's set of teeth.

In some embodiments the preparation design is free-form designed,designed based on the original tooth shape, designed based on the designof the dental component such as a crown, is a default design, is aparametric or algorithmic design, and/or is from a library.

In some embodiments the preparation design is based on which kind oftooth that is to be prepared, such as a molar tooth, a premolar tooth,or an anterior tooth.

In some embodiments the method further comprises designing the internaland/or external part of the crown based on the original tooth in theregion of the patient's set of teeth.

In some embodiments the dental component is adapted to be attached inthe region on the patient's set of teeth, after a physical preparationis performed on at least one tooth in the region on the patients' set ofteeth.

In some embodiments the method further comprises determining apreparation guide for the dentist prior to preparing the teeth.

The preparation guide may also be denoted or comprise a drill guide.

In some embodiments the method further comprises performing a virtualsegmentation of at least part of the set of teeth.

The virtual segmentation may be performed for easy handling of neighborteeth.

In some embodiments the method further comprises virtually cutting outthe at least one tooth in the region of the patient's set of teeth.

In some embodiments the method further comprises determining aninsertion direction of the at least one tooth in the region of thepatient's set of teeth.

In some embodiments the dental component is a temporary restoration, andthe method further comprises designing a final restoration based on thedesign of the temporary restoration.

Thus the first dental component may be designed according to themethod(s) disclosed above and may be e.g. a temporary restoration. Thesecond dental component may then be a final restoration. Thus the finalrestoration is based directly on the design of the temporaryrestoration.This is an advantage, because the method enables dental laboratories tosave time and materials costs. Furthermore it is an advantage that themethod is fast, easy and provides consistent designs because finalrestorations, such as crowns, are actually based on the previouslydesigned temporary/ies.

In some embodiments the method further comprises transferring the designof the temporary restoration into a design of a final restoration bymeans of aligning the design of the temporary restoration with a 3Drepresentation based on a 3D scan of the patient's prepared teeth.

In some embodiments the temporary design is modified prior to thetransfer.

In some embodiments the temporary design is a one-layer design, andwherein the one-layer temporary design is converted to a two-layerrestoration design.

In some embodiments the method further comprises performing validationscanning in the mouth of the patient with an intra-oral scanner whileperforming the preparation procedure according to the virtual design forvalidating that the preparation is performed correct according to thepreparation guide.

It is an advantage that the dentist can perform a validation of thephysical preparation he is performing in the tooth or teeth of thepatient by using an intra-oral scanner simultaneously or concurrentlywith the preparation procedure. He can scan a region where he has beenpreparing a tooth and by comparing the scan of this region with thepreparation guide, e.g. software model or instructions, the dentist cansee if he has cut away enough material of the tooth or if he needs tocut away some more material and where on the tooth the material shouldbe removed from. This intra oral scanning validation can be analternative and/or an addition to using physical preparation guides.

In some embodiments the validation scanning provides a real timevalidation.

In some embodiments the 3D scan is an intra oral scan of at least partof the patient's set of teeth, a scan of at least part of an impressionof the patient's set of teeth, and/or a scan of at least part of a modelof the patient's set of teeth.

In some embodiments the 3D scan is performed by means of laser lightscanning, white light scanning, probe-scanning, X-ray scanning, and/orCT scanning.

The 3D scan may provide data arranged as a point cloud from which thesurface of the set of teeth can be reconstructed. The reconstruction ofthe surface may be performed using a triangulation technique.

An example of a work flow may be:

a) in a dentist clinic a patient is e.g. intra orally scanned or animpression is taken which is then scanned.

b) in a dental lab the virtual preparation is designed based on the scanand the restoration is CAD designed based on the virtual preparation.

c) in the dentist clinic the virtual preparation and the restoration arepresented to the patient and if the patient accepts them, thepreparation guide is visualized and used to perform the preparation. Atemporary restoration may be placed on the preparation until therestoration has been produced and inserted in the patient's mouth.

Another example of a work flow may be:

a) an estimated sub-gingival tooth part is based on the scan of a tooth.

b) a margin line is set based on the estimated sub-gingival tooth part.

c) a virtual preparation is designed based on the margin line

d) a temporary is designed, the temporary crown is extracted from theCAD design and a prep guide is also determined.

Another example of a work flow may be:

a) a digital 3D representation is obtained from a 3D scan.

b) the relevant tooth of the scan is virtually cut out, i.e. the toothis virtually removed from the digital 3D representation.

c) non-available parts of the tooth is extrapolated, e.g. proximal sidesand/or sub-gingival part.

d) the virtual preparation is designed based on the extrapolated parts,or the restoration or temporary restoration is designed, e.g. a crown.

e) the virtual preparation is connected with relevant parts of thetooth.

f) the internal and/or external side of the crown is designed based onthe existing tooth.

g) a preparation guide is performed.

Another example of a work flow may be:

a) a preparation or at least part of crown or an internal surface of acrown is placed in the virtual space using the graphical user interface(GUI).

b) the margin line is determined based on one of the features.

Another example of a work flow may be:

a): obtain a digital 3D representation of the pre-prepared set of teethe.g. by inter-oral scanning;

b) virtually remove relevant teeth from the digital 3D representation;

c): create a virtual diagnostic wax-up for the set of teeth, saidvirtual diagnostic wax-up comprising one or more virtual dentalrestorations, such as crowns or a bridge

d) combine the digital 3D representation of the teeth from which teethare virtually removed with the diagnostic wax-up, such as combining byvirtually replacing one or more teeth of the digital 3D representationwith teeth according to the virtual diagnostic wax-up. The virtualcombined model may also be referred to as a virtual diagnostic lab modeland it can show a target dental situation for the patient;e) hole-closure of the combined model such that holes appearing at thelocation where the diagnostic wax-up and the digital 3D representationconnect may be closed. The hole-closing may be performed using acurvature based hole-closure algorithm.f) adding to the combined model a virtual preparation to the part of thedigital 3D representation where a corresponding tooth has been virtuallyremoved. This can be advantageous in case the dental technician choosesto design the digital temporary restoration from the shape of thevirtual preparation.

The work flow may further comprise:

g): finalizing the virtual diagnostic lab model by e.g. adding a virtualbase to the virtual combined model;

h): manufacture a physical diagnostic lab model from the virtualdiagnostic lab model.

When some of these workflows are combined their order may be as above orin a different order.

A preparation guide may be a recommended procedure to execute a dentalpreparation. It may be in the form of documents, audiovisual material,or physical artifacts such as example dental models. It may containinformation concerning which equipment to use and how to use it. Thus apreparation guide is typically directed at a dentist, a dentaltechnician, a dental lab and/or the like. A preparation guide maycomprise instructions, e.g. software instructions that can be executedby a machine used for the preparation.

In some embodiments of the invention the software assists the dentistwith the preparative work. In many cases, general preparation guides areprovided by manufacturers of dental material and equipment. To ease thedentist's work and to improve the restorative strength and overallquality, the method may provide the preparation guides automatically forthe particular dental component design, e.g. of a restoration.

Possibly, the software can assist with planning crown lengthening. Inthis context, for example the margin can be prevented from being placedtoo sub-gingivally. Also the type of margin, e.g. bevel or shoulder,could be suggested by the software.

Besides proposing details of the preparation, the software thatgenerates a preparation guide can possibly also validate a preparationthat the dentist and/or dental technician have devised by other means.For example, the software can evaluate restorative strength and/orchoice of materials, and/or even the choice of restorative treatmentmethod.

The preparation guide can take many forms including instruction text,multiple 2D screen shoots, 3D animations, computer visualization, videosand/or instructions for machined/robot preparation. A preparation guidemay also include a physical model of the desired, positive, preparation,or a physical negative representation which can be tested in the mouthof the patient. For example in the case where the model is a scannedcast model, the dental technician could prepare this cast. Because thevirtual preparation is also available in digital form, the dentalpreparation CAD model, it could also be manufactured by CAM.

A further embodiment comprises the step of providing a preparation guidefor the dentist prior to preparing the teeth, said preparation guidepreferably at least partly based on the dental preparation CAD model.

In a further embodiment said preparation guide provides assistance inrelation to lengthening of crown(s), location and/or type of the margin,and/or the like, and wherein the generation of said preparation guide isat least partly based on the dental restoration CAD model and/or the 3Dmodel of the pre-prepared teeth and/or the dental preparation CAD modeland/or segmentation of said models.

In a further embodiment said preparation guide comprises instructionsfor execution of a machine generated preparation and/or preparationmodel.

In a further embodiment said preparation guide comprises a dental modelof the preparation, such as a gypsum model and/or a wax-up model, suchas a marked-up dental model.

In a further embodiment aligning is at least partly based on detectingand/or demarcating and/or aligning margin lines of the models.

In a further embodiment transferring the design of the dentalrestoration CAD model comprises morphing part of the dental restorationCAD model to the 3D model of the prepared teeth.

In a further embodiment morphing is applied near the margin line of thedental restoration CAD model and/or the 3D model of the prepared teeth.

In a further embodiment the impact of morphing is highest near themargin line of the dental restoration CAD model and/or the 3D model ofthe prepared teeth, with decreasing impact of the morphing whenincreasing the distance to the margin line.

In a further embodiment, the step of transferring the design of thedental restoration CAD model comprises creating an inner surface of thedental restoration CAD model as an offset to the 3D model of theprepared teeth, said offset preferably in the occlusal and/or incisaldirection from the margin line of the 3D model of the prepared teeth.

In a further embodiment comprises said offset is provided automatically.

In a further embodiment comprises a significant part of the outersurface of the dental restoration CAD model is maintained whentransferred to the 3D model of the prepared teeth, the contour of theinner surface of the dental restoration CAD model is substantiallysimilar to the outer surface of the 3D model of the prepared teeth andthe margin line area of the dental restoration CAD model and the 3Dmodel of the prepared teeth are morphed together.

Yet a further embodiment comprises the step of transferring the designof the dental restoration CAD model comprises morphing the dentalpreparation CAD model with the 3D model of the prepared teeth, therebyproviding a transformation of the dental preparation CAD model to the 3Dmodel of the prepared teeth, and subsequently applying thistransformation to the dental restoration CAD model.

A further embodiment comprises the step of modifying the design of thedental restoration CAD model subsequent to the step of transferring saiddental restoration CAD model to the 3D model of the prepared teeth.

The present invention relates to different aspects including the methoddescribed above and in the following, and corresponding methods,devices, systems, uses and/or product means, each yielding one or moreof the benefits and advantages described in connection with the firstmentioned aspect, and each having one or more embodiments correspondingto the embodiments described in connection with the first mentionedaspect and/or disclosed in the appended claims.

In particular, disclosed herein is a system for designing a dentalcomponent for at least a region of a patient's set of teeth, wherein thesystem comprises:

-   -   means for obtaining a digital 3D representation of at least the        region of the patient's set of teeth, where the digital 3D        representation is based on a 3D scan, and where the teeth and        gingival in the 3D representation are configured to be        distinguished from each other;    -   means for virtually designing the dental component;        where at least part of the dental component is designed based on        at least a part of the gingival in the 3D representation; and    -   means for obtaining a 3D virtual model of the dental component.

In particular, disclosed herein is a system for designing a dentalcomponent for a region on a patient's set of teeth, wherein the systemcomprises:

-   -   means for obtaining a digital 3D representation of at least the        region of the patient's set of teeth, where the digital 3D        representation is based on a 3D scan;    -   means for determining at least part of a surface which is not        available in the 3D representation;    -   means for virtually designing a preparation in the region of the        patient' set of teeth for the dental component; and    -   means for obtaining a 3D virtual model of the dental component.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a computer program productcomprising program code means for causing a data processing system toperform the method according to any of the embodiments, when saidprogram code means are executed on the data processing system, and acomputer program product, comprising a computer-readable medium havingstored there on the program code means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and/or additional objects, features and advantages of thepresent invention, will be further elucidated by the followingillustrative and non-limiting detailed description of embodiments of thepresent invention, with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows an example of a flowchart of the computer-implementedmethod.

FIGS. 2 a through 2 g show examples of designing a virtual preparationand designing at least part of a dental component.

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b show an example of determining a part of a surfacewhich is not available in the 3D representation.

FIG. 4 shows an example of obtaining a virtual model of at least part ofa dental component.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a margin line drawn on a preparation.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a crown designed based on the original toothshape.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic example of choosing settings for a coping.

FIGS. 8 a through 8 d show examples of different dental components,where a preparation may be performed for attaching or arranging thedental component.

FIGS. 9 a through 9 h show an example of a workflow for designing adental component, such as a temporary restoration, and a substantiallycorresponding dental component, such as a final restoration.

FIGS. 10 a through 10 h show an example of designing at least a part ofa dental component based on a gingival part.

FIGS. 11 a through 11 e show examples of designing of the gingival.

FIGS. 12 a through 12 c show an example of prior art manual designing ofthe gingival on a physical teeth model.

FIGS. 13 a through 13 i show an example of the generation of a virtualmodel of a temporary bridge restoration.

FIGS. 14 a through 14 f illustrate one workflow for designing of atleast a part of a dental component such as a temporary bridgerestoration or a diagnostic wax-up bridge using an embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, reference is made to the accompanyingfigures, which show by way of illustration how the invention may bepracticed.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a flowchart for an embodiment of the methodof designing a dental component for a region on a patient's set ofteeth.

In step 101 a digital 3D representation of at least the region of thepatient's set of teeth is provided. The digital 3D representation isbased on a 3D scan.

In step 102 at least part of a surface which is not available in the 3Drepresentation is determined.

In step 103 a preparation is virtually designed in the region of thepatient' set of teeth for the dental component.

In step 104 a 3D virtual model of the dental component is obtained.

The order of the steps may be the order as above or a different order,e.g.: In step 101 a digital 3D representation of at least the region ofthe patient's set of teeth is provided. The digital 3D representation isbased on a 3D scan.

In step 102 a preparation is virtually designed in the region of thepatient' set of teeth for the dental component.

In step 103 at least part of a surface which is not available in the 3Drepresentation is determined.

In step 104 a 3D virtual model of the dental component is obtained.

However, other orders may also be possible.

Determining at least part of a surface not available in the 3Drepresentation may comprise virtually designing at least a part of thedental component. Thus then the surface which is not available in the 3Drepresentation may be at least a part of the dental component beingdesigned.

Alternatively and/or additionally, the surface which is not available inthe 3D representation may be an existing part of patient's set of teeth.Thus determining at least part of a surface which is not available inthe 3D representation may comprise determining a proximal side of atooth, and/or a sub-gingival tooth part.

FIG. 2 shows examples of designing a virtual preparation and designingat least part of a dental component.

FIG. 2 a ) shows an example of a digital 3D representation. Even thoughthe representation only appears to be a 2D representation, it isintended to illustrate a digital 3D representation for this purpose. Thedigital 3D representation shows two teeth 201, 202 from a set of teethof a patient.FIG. 2 b ) shows an example of a virtual preparation 203 or of virtuallypreparing or prepping the tooth 202.FIG. 2 c ) shows an example of virtually designing at least part of adental component. In this case a crown 204 is designed.Both the virtual preparation 203 and the crown 204 can be designed basedon the original shape of the tooth 202.

FIG. 2 d ) shows an example where the virtual design of a crown 204 isdesigned first, and then the virtual design of the preparation 203 isdesigned afterwards. The virtual design of the preparation 203 may thusbe based on the shape of the original tooth 202 and/or based on thevirtual design of the crown 204.

FIG. 2 e ) shows an example where the virtual design of the preparation203 is designed first, and then the virtual design of the crown 204 isdesigned afterwards. The virtual design of the crown 204 may thus bebased on the shape of the original tooth 202 and/or based on the virtualdesign of the preparation 203.

FIG. 2 f ) shows an example where the virtual design of a crown 204 isdesigned first, the original tooth 202 is then ignored, and finally thevirtual design of the preparation 203 is designed afterwards. Thevirtual design of the preparation 203 may thus be based on the virtualdesign of the crown 204, but may not be based on the shape of theoriginal tooth 202.

FIG. 2 g ) shows an example where the virtual design of the preparation203 is designed first, the original tooth 202 is then ignored, andfinally the virtual design of the crown 204 is designed afterwards. Thevirtual design of the crown 204 may thus be based on the virtual designof the preparation 203, but may not be based on the shape of theoriginal tooth 202.

Ignoring the original tooth 202 may comprise deleting the tooth 202,and/or ignoring the tooth 202 may be implemented by fading the tooth 202such that it is less apparent than the other features/shapes.

FIG. 3 shows an example of determining a part of a surface which is notavailable in the 3D representation.

FIG. 3 a ) shows an example where the sub-gingival tooth part 305 of thetooth 302 is determined. The margin line 306 is also determined. Thesub-gingival tooth part 305 is not available in the scan, when scanningusing laser light, since this type of scanning cannot scan through thegingival tissue. Thus the sub-gingival tooth part 305 may be determinedby extrapolating the available 3D representation of the surface of thetooth 302.

FIG. 3 b ) shows an example of determining a proximal side 307 of thetooth 302. The left figure shows that the proximal side of a tooth 302may be impossible to represent in a 3D scan, because the teeth 301 and302 lie very close together so that there is no space between them. Inthe digital 3D representation the actual proximal side of the tooth 302is therefore not available. The right figure shows that the proximalside 307 of the tooth 302 may be determined by extrapolating theavailable digital 3D representation of the surface of the tooth 302. Theavailable digital 3D representation of the surface of the neighbor tooth301 may also be used in determining the proximal side 307 of the tooth302.

The extrapolations may comprise any kind of extrapolation, such aslinear extrapolation, polynomial extrapolation, conic extrapolation,french curve extrapolation, a combination of two or more differentextrapolations etc.

FIG. 4 shows an example of obtaining a virtual model of at least part ofa dental component.

In the first figure, the tooth 402 is shown, the determined sub-gingivalpart 405 of the tooth 402 is shown, and the margin line 406 is shown.The sub-gingival part 405 of the tooth 402 and/or the margin line may bedetermined by the original shape of the tooth 402.

In the second figure, the virtual design of the crown 404 is shown, thevirtual design of the preparation 403 is shown, the margin line 406 isshown and the sub-gingival part 405 of the tooth 402 is shown.

In the third figure, the final 3D virtual model 408 of the crown 404 isillustrated with a cross sectional of the virtual model.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a margin line drawn on a preparation.

The margin line 506 is drawn on the preparation 503 and the insertiondirection 509 of the preparation 503 is marked with an arrow.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a crown designed based on the original toothshape.

The original tooth shape 602 is a 3D representation from a 3D scan. Thevirtual design of the crown 604, which is a dental component or is apart of a dental component, is based on the original tooth shape 602and/or based on the virtual preparation 603. The crown 604 may be theexternal part of a double crown, and the line 610 may then indicate theinternal part 610 of the crown.Alternatively, the line 610 may indicate a coping 610 for the crown 604or a coping 610 for veneering 604.There may be a cement space or gap between the two parts 604 and 610 forfastening them together.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic example of choosing settings for a virtualpreparation.

The virtual preparation may be designed based on a coping. Setting nr 1indicates wall thickness of the coping, nr. 2 indicates wall height, nr.3 indicates margin line offset, nr. 4 indicates offset angle, and nr. 5indicates extension bandwidth. Lingual band start angle, end angle andoffset can also be determined.

FIG. 8 shows examples of different dental components, where apreparation may be performed for attaching or arranging the dentalcomponent.

FIG. 8 a ) shows an example of a diagnostic wax-up 811 on a preparationor pre-preparation model 812. The diagnostic wax-up 811 and the model812 may be virtual or physical.

FIG. 8 b ) shows an example of crown 813 between the originalneighboring teeth.

FIG. 8 c ) shows an example of inlay, onlay and veneers 814.

FIG. 8 d ) shows an example of inlay and Maryland bridge 815.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a workflow for designing a dental component,such as a temporary restoration, and a substantially correspondingdental component, such as a final restoration.

FIG. 9 a ) shows an example of a virtual preparation. The virtualpreparation may be designed by e.g. a dental technician in a dentallaboratory. The virtual preparation is designed based on a virtual 3Dmodel of a patient's teeth. The virtual preparation may be a so-calledminimal preparation. The virtual 3D model of the patient's teeth may becreated based on e.g. an intra-oral scan, a scan of an impression, ascan of a model etc.

If the virtual 3D model is made based on an intra-oral scan or a scan ofan impression, this removes the need for manufacturing a physical modelof the teeth. The 3D scanning is performed on the pre-prepared set ofteeth.

FIG. 9 b ) shows an example of a temporary restoration, which may bedesigned based on the virtual preparation in FIG. 9 a ). The dentaltechnician may also design the temporary or a diagnostic wax-up. Theinternal surface of the temporary may automatically be processed ordesigned to fit the virtual preparation.

FIG. 9 c ) shown an example where the design of the temporary in FIG. 9b ) may be performed by means of CAD design and using e.g. toothlibraries, cloning with existing teeth and/or freeform modeling usingflexible sculpt tools. The sculpt tools may provide scaling, shaping,rotating, cloning, mirroring, morphing etc.

The digital design of the temporary or diagnostic wax-ups can be sentdigitally to the laboratory manufacturing them. Furthermore, the dentaltechnician can send accurate before-and-after visualizations of thedesigned tooth and resulting smile for reviewing at the dentist clinic.

At the manufacturer, the temporary or diagnostic wax-up can bemanufactured directly from the CAD design and sent to the dentist. Whenthe dentist receives the temporary, he then actually prepares, grind, orpreps the patient's real tooth. Then he takes an impression of the newdental situation with the prepared tooth using impression materialand/or scans the teeth intra orally, and then he places or seats thetemporary restoration in the patient's mouth. The impression and/or theintra oral scan may be sent to the dental technician or laboratory thatscans the impression to obtain a virtual 3D model of the preparation orobtains or uses the 3D model created from the intra oral scan.

FIG. 9 d ) shows an example of a virtual 3D model of the realpreparation.

FIG. 9 e ) shows an example of the designed final restoration. Thevirtual 3D model of the preparation and the previously made digitaltemporary design may be used to create the design of the finalrestoration, e.g. a crown. This design may also be performed by thedental technician and/or the laboratory. The temporary restorationdesign files may be merged together with the virtual 3D model of thepreparation to create a final crown using digital transfer and alignprocessing tools or means. The final crown may thus be created in a veryshort time and with a perfect fit to the patient's tooth preparation.

FIG. 9 f ) shows an example of the final restoration arranged on thepreparation.

FIG. 9 g ) shows an example of the final restoration arranged on thepreparation where the final restoration is transparent such that thepreparation can be seen underneath.

FIG. 9 h ) shows an overview of one workflow illustrated with thefigures above. The temporary restoration is denoted as “temp” in thisfigure. The figure illustrates how the actions are divided between thedentist and laboratory or lab.

FIG. 10 shows an example of designing at least a part of a dentalcomponent based on a gingival part.

FIG. 10 a ) shows an example of a 3D virtual model 1000 of a patient'steeth. The 3D virtual model 1000 may be obtained by scanning the teethwith an intra oral scanner, scanning an impression of the teeth orscanning a physical model of the teeth. The virtual model 1000 comprisesin this case two teeth 1001 and the gingival edge 1002 of a region whichmay be an extraction wound after a tooth being removed or falling out ordying. Thus the patient wishes to have a bridge made where a pontic isarranged in the place 1002 of the missing tooth.

FIG. 10 b ) shows an example of the 3D virtual model 1000 where thetooth roots 1003 in the bone hidden by the gingival 1004 is indicated.The line 1005 on the teeth 1001 indicates where the gingival reaches onthe teeth 1001.

FIG. 10 c ) shows an example of the designed temporary restoration 1010,which is a bridge in this example. The designed pontic 1006 is indicatedbetween the two teeth 1001. The preparation 1007 of each of the twoteeth 1001 is also indicated. Furthermore, the edge of the ponticadjacent to the gingival edge 1002 of the extraction region is shown intwo different designs 1008 and 1009. The edge of the pontic 1008, 1009is designed relative to the gingival edge 1002 of the extraction region.

The pontic edge 1008 provides a shorter pontic, where in this case thegap between the pontic edge 1008 and the gingival 1002 of the brokenregion will be rather big. The pontic edge 1009 provides a longerpontic, where in this case the gap between the pontic edge 1009 and thegingival 1002 of the broken region will be smaller. The pontic edge 1009may correspond to the pontic edge in a temporary restoration, where theregion after the missing tooth is rather big. The pontic edge 1008 maycorrespond to the pontic edge in a final restoration, where the regionafter the missing tooth is smaller since the bone underneath may havegrown and the gingival edge 1002 is in good shape again. The patientnormally wears the temporary restoration for some weeks and in thisperiod the bone may start growing and the extraction wound may heal.Thus the final restoration should typically be smaller than thetemporary for ensuring that the gap to the gingival edge 1002 is stillsuitable.Notice that the gaps between the pontic edge 1008, 1009 and the gingivaledge 1002 shown in this figure are exaggerated for the purpose ofillustration. Normally the gap should be so small that it is notimmediately visible and so food stuff etc. does not come in through thegap. Still the gap should have a size so that the edge of the pontic1008, 1009 does not irritate the adjacent gingival edge 1002.

FIG. 10 d ) shows an example of the temporary restoration 1010comprising two crowns 1011 and a pontic 1012. The edge 1009 indicatesthe edge of the temporary restoration. The dotted line 1008 may indicatethe edge of a final restoration.

The internal part of the crowns 1011 of the restoration 1010 correspondsto the preparation 1007 as seen in FIG. 10 c ).

FIG. 10 e ) shows an example of a 3D virtual model 1013 of the teethafter the dentist has prepared the two teeth for the crowns. The teeth1001 from FIG. 10 a ) are now prepared teeth 1014. The prepared teeth1014 correspond to the designed preparation 1007 in FIG. 10 c ). Thetooth roots 1003 are also shown.

FIG. 10 f ) shows an example of the oral situation 1015 when therestoration is arranged in the mouth of the patient. The restorationcomprises the two crowns 1011 and the pontic 1012. The tooth roots 1003are also indicated for illustration. The pontic edge 1009 of thetemporary restoration is shown, as well the pontic edge 1008 for e.g. afinal restoration. The edge of the gingival 1002 in the wound or hole isindicated.

FIG. 10 g ) shows an example of the oral situation 1015 when thetemporary restoration is arranged in the mouth of the patient. Therestoration comprises the two crowns 1011 and the pontic 1012. Thepontic edge 1009 of the temporary restoration is shown.

FIG. 10 h ) shows an example of the oral situation 1015 when the finalrestoration is arranged in the mouth of the patient. The restorationcomprises the two crowns 1011 and the pontic 1012. The pontic edge 1008of the final restoration is shown.

FIG. 11 shows examples of designing of the gingival.

FIG. 11 a ) shows an example of a pontic 1106 and the gingival edge 1102adjacent to the pontic. The dotted lines 1108 and 1109 show how the edgeof the pontic adjacent to the gingival edge 1102 can be designed.

FIG. 11 b ) shows an example of the gingival edge 1102 and two designsof a pontic edge 1108, 1109, which are designed based on the gingivaledge 1102.

FIG. 11 c ) shows an example of designing the gingival edge 1102. Thegingival edge c1 may be gingival edge as captured in the mouth of thepatient. The gingival edge may be scanned intra orally or an impressionof the teeth and gingival may be taken.

The designs c2-c5 may be different designs of the gingival edge 1102.The gingival edge may be designed like this, because the dentaltechnician and/or the dentist assume that the gingival edge will evolveto look like this after some time. Based on the design of the gingivaledge 1102, a restoration, such as a temporary restoration, such as apontic in a bridge, may be designed.

FIG. 11 d ) and FIG. 11 e ) show an example of modeling or designing orsculpting the gingival edge 1102. A number of points, e.g. three points,1, 2, 3, may be assigned to the gingival edge for dragging the edge indifferent directions, depending on how the design of the gingival shouldbe. As it is shown in the figure, the points along the gingival edge maybe dragged in different directions for designing the gingival.

In some of the figures 2D models are shown and the designing or modelingis shown in 2D, however it is understood that all models according tothe method are 3D models and that designing and modeling are in 3D inthe method.

FIG. 12 shows an example of prior art manual designing of the gingivalon a physical teeth model.

FIG. 12 a ) shows the manual preparation of the prepared teeth 1214 onthe physical model with a grinding tool. The region 1202 shows thegingival edge where one or more teeth are missing. The regular gingival1204 is seen around the normal teeth.

FIG. 12 b ) and FIG. 12 c ) shows same physical model with the preparedteeth 1214. The region 1202 shows the gingival edge where one or moreteeth are missing. The regular gingival 1204 is seen around the normalteeth.

A bridge with a pontic arranged at the region with the gingival edge1202 can then manually be designed for this model.

FIG. 13 shows an example of how a 3D virtual model of a temporary bridgerestoration for the patient's set of teeth can be generated using anembodiment of the invention.

The illustrated temporary bridge restoration is for the anteriormaxillary teeth, such that pontics are provided for the 8-tooth and the9-tooth, while crowns of the bridge are attached to the 7-tooth and the10-tooth, where the teeth are numbered according to the universal toothdesignation system. The reference numbers used in the figure complieswith this numbering such that e.g. reference numbers 1307 and 1310 areused for the teeth that in the universal tooth designation system arenumbered 7 and 10, respectively.FIG. 13 a ) shows a digital 3D representation of the pre-prepared set ofteeth where a 3D sectioning spline 1340 has been defined on the 9-tooth.The 3D sectioning spline can be defined manually by an operator orautomatically using computer implemented algorithms. The digital 3Drepresentation is generated from a 3D scan of the pre-prepared set ofteeth.

After the 3D sectioning spline has been defined in relation to onetooth, the inter-proximal surfaces and optionally some of thesub-gingival surface of this tooth can be generated using computerimplemented algorithms.

The 3D sectioning spline can be modified to provide that it has the samerelationship to the gingival over the inter-proximal surfaces and thebuccal/labial/lingual facing surfaces of the tooth. That is, the 3Dsectioning spline 1340 can be modified to have a desired shape over theinter-proximal surfaces and over the directly visible surfaces of thetooth.

In FIG. 13 a ) the 3D sectioning spline 1340 follows the gingival on thelabial-facing surface of the 9-tooth 1309. The 3D sectioning spline canbe defined by control points which accordingly can be used to modify the3D sectioning spline to substantially follow the gingival over thebuccal or lingual surfaces of the tooth as well as the inter-proximalsurfaces of the tooth. When the 3D sectioning spline 1340 has beenmodified to have a desired shape, the part bounded by the 3D sectioningspline is virtually removed from the digital 3D representation.

The procedure of defining the 3D spline from the digital 3Drepresentation of the pre-prepared tooth and modifying it to follow adesired path also in the inter-proximal surface of the tooth can berepeated for all teeth such that the portion of the digital 3Drepresentation corresponding to all these teeth is deleted. Thiscorresponds to virtually removing the teeth from the digital 3Drepresentation of the set of teeth.

When the teeth are virtually removed from the set of teeth, the operatormay choose to place a virtual gingival or a virtual preparation at thecorresponding locations depending on whether the tooth is to be removedfrom the set of teeth or is to be prepared for a crown.

FIG. 13 b ) shows the digital 3D representation of the pre-prepared setof teeth after the 7-tooth and the 8-tooth are virtually removed. A hole1341 is now seen in the region from which the 7-tooth has been removed,while a virtual gingival 1342 has been generated for the region fromwhich the 8-tooth has been removed. The virtual gingival 1342 can begenerated from a library and/or derived from the shape of thesurrounding gingival using e.g. algorithms similar to a curvature basedhole closing technique. The virtual gingival may also be shaped usingpoints as described in FIG. 11 e ) where the points can be used to adaptfirst version of the gingival to the gingival of the patient. The firstversion of the gingival may be selected from a library or generatedusing an algorithm.

A virtual margin line of the individual teeth in the temporary bridgerestoration may be defined. The virtual margin line can be configured toextend over the inter-proximal surfaces as seen in FIG. 13 c ) whichshows a virtual margin line 1343 for the 7-tooth. The operator maychoose to modify the margin line to achieve a desired aesthetic result.

In FIG. 13 d ) a diagnostic bridge wax-up 1344 for the four teeth isprovided and combined with the digital 3D representation of the set ofteeth from which teeth are virtually removed to get a virtual model of atarget dental situation. The diagnostic bridge wax-up 1344 can beselected from a library or be formed according to the teeth of thepre-prepared set of teeth. The anatomical surface of the teeth of thetemporary bridge restoration can be derived from the teeth of thediagnostic bridge wax-up.

FIG. 13 e ) shows a virtual model of the crown part 1345 of thetemporary bridge restoration where the boundary of the cervical edge ofthe crown is defined from the virtual gingival line 1341. The virtualmargin line defined on the tooth seen in FIG. 13 c ) can hence be usedto define the cervical edge (i.e. the lower boundary) of thecorresponding part (crown or pontic) of the virtual model of thetemporary bridge restoration

FIG. 13 f ) shows a visualization of a virtual combined model of thedigital 3D representation virtual of the teeth from which teeth arevirtually removed and the diagnostic wax-up. The combined model may alsobe referred to as a virtual diagnostic lab model and it can show atarget dental situation for the patient.

Holes that appears e.g. at the location where the diagnostic wax-up andthe digital 3D representation connects may be closed using e.g.curvature based hole-closure algorithms such that the virtual diagnosticlab model is made “water-tight”.

FIG. 13 f ) also shows a virtual preparation which has been added at thepart of the digital 3D representation where the 7-tooth has beenvirtually removed. This can be advantageous in case the dentaltechnician chooses to design the digital temporary restoration from theshape of the virtual preparation.

The diagnostic wax-up part of the virtual combined model can bemanipulated independently of the digital 3D model of the set of teeth inorder to obtain e.g. a desired aesthetic appearance as illustrated inFIG. 13 g ).

FIGS. 13 h ) and 13 i) show the 3D virtual model of the temporary bridgerestoration. In FIG. 13 h ) the temporary bridge restoration is viewedfrom the basal/cervical side such that the generated jaw-facing surfacesof the crowns and the pontics are seen. In FIG. 13 i ) the temporarybridge restoration is viewed from the labial side such that part of theanatomical surface is seen.

In some cases the dentist prefers to have a physical combined model of adiagnostic wax-up and the patient's set of teeth. In that situation, thevirtual combined model may be finalized by e.g. adding a base to it, anda physical combined model may then be manufactured based on the virtualcombined model.

FIG. 14 illustrates the designing of at least a part of a dentalcomponent such as a temporary bridge restoration or a diagnostic wax-upbridge using an embodiment of the invention. The following descriptionis made with reference to the case where the dental component is atemporary bridge restoration but the example is also valid for adiagnostic wax-up bridge.

FIG. 14 a ) shows an example of a 3D virtual model 1400 of a patient'steeth. The 3D virtual model 1400 may be obtained by 3D scanning theteeth with an intra-oral scanner, 3D scanning an impression of the teethor 3D scanning a physical model of the teeth. The virtual model 1400comprises three teeth 14011, 14012 where the middle one 14012 is to beextracted and replaced by a pontic, while the surrounding two teeth14011 are to be prepared for accepting crown portions of the temporarybridge restoration.

The 3D scanning is performed before extracting the tooth 14012 from thepatient's mouth and before the teeth 10411 are prepared. The teeth 10411and 14012 may be virtually removed and virtual gingival and virtualpreparations may be formed as described in FIG. 13 .

In FIG. 14 b ) an example of a jaw-facing surface 1451, 1452 of atemporary bridge restoration 1410 is illustrated. The jaw-facingsurfaces 1451 of the crowns of the temporary bridge restoration areconfigured to allow the crowns to be attached to the corresponding teethwhen these have been prepared by the dentist. The jaw-facing surfaces ofthe crowns may also be referred to as the cervical part of the crowns,i.e. the part facing the roots of the prepared teeth. The jaw-facingsurface 1452 of the pontic may be generated by virtually removing thecorresponding tooth from the 3D virtual model 1400 and forming a virtualgingival from which at least part of the jaw-facing surface 1452 isgenerated e.g. by offsetting the surface defined by the virtualgingival. The jaw-facing surface of the pontic may also be referred toas the basal part of the pontic.

The anatomical surface 1453 of the temporary bridge restoration may begenerated from the original shape of the teeth 14011, 14012 or selectedfrom a library of e.g. diagnostic wax-up templates.

Notice that the gap between the jaw-facing surface of the pontic 1453and the adjacent edge of the gingival 1402 shown in this figure isexaggerated for the purpose of illustration. Still the gap should have asize so that the pontic does not irritate the adjacent gingival edge1402.

FIG. 14 c ) shows an example of the designed temporary bridgerestoration 1410 with the pontic 1412 arranged between the two crowns1411. The temporary bridge restoration may be manufactured prior to thepreparation of the teeth such that it is available to be inserted intothe patient's mouth immediately after the extraction and preparation ofthe teeth. When inserted in the mouth the jaw-facing surface of thecrown portions will engage the prepared teeth while the jaw-facingsurface of the pontic will face the gingival in the region where thetooth has been extracted. The temporary bridge restoration may bemanufactured by e.g. direct digital manufacturing.

FIG. 14 d ) shows an example of the region 1413 of the teeth after thedentist has prepared the two teeth 14011 for the crowns and after thetooth 14012 has been extracted.

When the tooth has been extracted the surface in that region is shapedby the gingival 1402. The teeth 14011 from FIG. 14 a ) may have beenprepared according to a virtual or physical dental preparation guideconfigured for providing the dentist guidance on how to ensure that theprepared teeth 1414 have a shape according to the jaw-facing surfaces1451 of the temporary bridge restoration 1410 in FIG. 14 c ).

FIG. 14 e ) shows how the manufactured temporary bridge restoration maybe fitted to the prepared teeth.

The preparation of the teeth is rarely such that the surface of theprepared teeth 1414 perfectly follows the jaw-facing surface 1451 of thecrown portions of the temporary bridge restoration manufactured from the3D virtual model of the same, but the preparation uncertainty andlimitations of the manufacturing precision may be taken into accountwhen designing the 3D virtual model such that the manufactured temporarybridge restoration still can be arranged at the prepared teeth. One wayof doing so is by designing the crown parts using the so-calledegg-shell design which ensures that the requirements to the precision ofthe shape of the prepared teeth are reduced.

FIG. 14 f ) shows an example of the oral situation 1415 with themanufactured temporary bridge restoration arranged in the mouth of thepatient. The temporary bridge restoration comprises a pontic 1412 andtwo crowns 1411, where the jaw-facing surface of the crowns and thesurface of the prepared teeth are configured such that the temporarybridge restoration can be temporarily attached to the prepared teeth1414.

Although some embodiments have been described and shown in detail, theinvention is not restricted to them, but may also be embodied in otherways within the scope of the subject matter defined in the followingclaims. In particular, it is to be understood that other embodiments maybe utilised and structural and functional modifications may be madewithout departing from the scope of the present invention.

In device claims enumerating several means, several of these means canbe embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact thatcertain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims ordescribed in different embodiments does not indicate that a combinationof these measures cannot be used to advantage.

It should be emphasized that the term “comprises/comprising” when usedin this specification is taken to specify the presence of statedfeatures, integers, steps or components but does not preclude thepresence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps,components or groups thereof.

The features of the method described above and in the following may beimplemented in software and carried out on a data processing system orother processing means caused by the execution of computer-executableinstructions. The instructions may be program code means loaded in amemory, such as a RAM, from a storage medium or from another computervia a computer network. Alternatively, the described features may beimplemented by hardwired circuitry instead of software or in combinationwith software.

The invention will now be described in more detail by means of thefollowing sequentially numbered items.

1. A method for generating a 3D virtual model of a dental component fora region of a patient's set of teeth, where the dental componentcomprises a temporary bridge restoration or a diagnostic wax-up bridge,such that the dental component comprises crowns and at least one pontic,wherein the method comprises:

-   -   obtaining a digital 3D representation of the set of teeth, where        the digital 3D representation is based on a 3D scan of a        pre-prepared configuration of the set of teeth;    -   virtually sectioning the part of the digital 3D representation        corresponding to the teeth in said region using at least one 3D        sectioning spline;    -   determining at least part of the inter-proximal surfaces of the        virtually sectioned teeth; and    -   determining a jaw-facing surface for the dental component, where        the jaw-facing surface is configured for facing a surface which        is not available in the digital 3D representation of the        pre-prepared set of teeth.        2. The method according to item 1, wherein the jaw-facing        surface comprises the jaw-facing surface of the pontic of said        dental component.        3. The method according to item 1 or 2, wherein the jaw-facing        surface comprises the jaw-facing surface of a least one of the        crowns of said dental component.        4. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein determining the jaw-facing surface comprises        estimating at least a part of the surface which is not available        in the 3D representation.        5. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, where the 3D sectioning spline for a tooth is adapted to        extend over at least one inter-proximal surface of that tooth.        6. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the 3D sectioning spline is defined automatically        using a computer implemented sectioning spline generating        algorithm.        7. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the method comprises manually defining the 3D        sectioning spline or manually adjusting an automatically        generated 3D sectioning spline.        8. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein manually defining the 3D sectioning spline or        manually adjusting an automatically generated 3D sectioning        spline is based on sectioning spline control points used to        control the shape of the 3D sectioning spline.        9. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the method comprises virtually removing one or        more teeth from the digital 3D representation, such as a tooth        which is to be replaced by the pontic or a tooth which is to be        prepared for accepting a crown.        10. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the method comprises generating a virtual        preparation for the tooth or a virtual gingival.        11. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the virtual gingival is generated at the position        in the digital 3D representation corresponding to the position        at which the pontic is to be arranged.        12. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein at least a part of the dental component is        designed based on the virtual gingival.        13. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the method comprises replacing the virtually        removed tooth with the virtual preparation or the virtual        gingival in the digital 3D representation of the set of teeth.        14. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the basal surface of the pontic is shaped        according to the virtual gingival at the position in the digital        3D representation corresponding to where the pontic is to be        arranged.        15. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the virtual gingival is generated based on the        digital 3D representation.        16. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the virtual gingival is selected from a library        of gingival profile templates or where the virtual gingival is        generated by freeform modeling using flexible sculpt tools.        17. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the selected virtual gingival is modified to fit        the patient's set of teeth.        18. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the method comprises generating a virtual margin        line for a virtual preparation of at least one tooth in the        digital 3D representation.        19. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        claims, wherein the method comprises providing a diagnostic        wax-up for the teeth of the dental component.        20. The method according to any of the previous items, wherein        the method comprises generating a 3D virtual combined model by        virtually replacing one or more teeth of the digital 3D        representation with teeth according to the virtual diagnostic        wax-up.        21. The method according to any of the previous items, wherein        the method comprises hole-closure of the combined model such        that holes appearing at the location where the diagnostic wax-up        and the digital 3D representation connect are closed.        22. The method according to any of the previous items, wherein        the method further comprises manufacturing a physical combined        model from the 3D virtual combined model by direct digital        manufacturing, such as by 3D printing or milling.        23. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the method comprises projecting the virtual        margin line onto the portion of the virtual diagnostic wax-up        corresponding to that tooth.        24. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the virtual margin line for a tooth is based on        the 3D sectioning spline used for sectioning that tooth.        25. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the virtual margin line for a tooth is        substantially identical to the 3D sectioning spline for that        tooth.        26. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the boundary of the cervical surface of a crown        part of the dental component is derived from said virtual margin        line of the corresponding tooth.        27. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the virtual margin line for a tooth is configured        to extend over the inter-proximal surface of said tooth.        28. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the virtual margin line is defined from the        intersection of the virtual diagnostic wax-up and the digital 3D        representation of the set of teeth in the combined model.        29. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the virtual margin line is manually defined or        wherein a section of an automatically generated virtual margin        line is manually adjusted.        30. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein at least one anatomical surface of the 3D virtual        model of the dental component is derived from the shape of the        teeth in the pre-prepared configuration or from the virtual        diagnostic wax-up.        31. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the method comprises visualizing at least one        virtual preparation using a visual display unit.        32. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein a part of the dental component is designed based        on the virtual preparation.        33. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the method comprises trimming the digital 3D        representation of the set of teeth.        34. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the inter-proximal surfaces are generated using        polynomial algorithms to provide a realistic presentation of        these surfaces.        35. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the method comprises determining a target        insertion direction for the dental component.        36. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the 3D virtual model of the dental component is        generated taking into account the target insertion direction for        the dental component.        37. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the crown parts of the dental component are        shaped according to an egg-shell configuration        38. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the virtual preparation is shaped according to        the insertion direction.        39. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the method is computer-implemented.        40. The method according to any of the previous items, wherein        the method comprises modifying the digital 3D representation of        the set of teeth by virtually replacing one or more teeth of the        digital 3D representation with virtual preparations, and        generating the 3D virtual model of the temporary bridge        restoration with the crown parts corresponding to the prepared        teeth.        41. The method according to any of the previous items, wherein        the method further comprises manufacturing a physical model from        the modified digital 3D representation of the set of teeth        and/or the 3D virtual model of the temporary bridge restoration        by direct digital manufacturing, such as by 3D printing or        milling.        42. A method for manufacturing a dental component or a physical        model of the dental component, where the method comprises:    -   generating a 3D virtual model of the dental component using the        method according to any of items 1 to 40; and    -   manufacturing the dental component or the physical model of the        dental component based on the 3D virtual model by direct digital        manufacturing, such as by 3D printing or milling.        43. A method for manufacturing a combined model for use in        planning, visualization and manufacturing of a bridge        restoration, where the method comprises:    -   obtaining a digital 3D representation of a pre-prepared set of        teeth showing the region for which the bridge restoration is        intended;    -   providing a virtual diagnostic wax-up for the teeth of the        bridge restoration;    -   generating a 3D virtual combined model by virtually replacing        one or more teeth of the digital 3D representation of the        pre-prepared set of teeth with corresponding teeth of the        virtual diagnostic wax-up; and    -   manufacturing the combined model from the 3D virtual combined        model by direct digital manufacturing, such as by 3D printing or        milling.        44. A system for manufacturing a dental component, where the        dental component comprises a temporary bridge restoration or a        diagnostic wax-up bridge for a region of a patient's set of        teeth such that the dental component comprises crowns and at        least one pontic, said system comprising    -   a non-transitory computer readable medium having one or more        computer instructions stored thereon, where said computer        instructions comprises instructions for generating a 3D virtual        model of the dental component, where said generating comprises        virtually sectioning the part of an obtained digital 3D        representation corresponding to the teeth in said region using        at least one 3D sectioning spline, determining at least part of        the inter-proximal surfaces of the virtually sectioned teeth,        and determining a jaw-facing surface for the dental component,        where the jaw-facing surface is configured for facing a surface        which is not available in the 3D representation; and    -   a manufacturing device configured for manufacturing the dental        component from said 3D virtual model.        45. The system according to item 43, wherein the system        comprises a scanner device configured for obtaining a digital 3D        representation of a set of teeth, such as an intra-oral scanner.        46. A method of designing a dental component for at least a        region of a patient's set of teeth, wherein the method        comprises:    -   obtaining a digital 3D representation of at least the region of        the patient's set of teeth, where the digital 3D representation        is based on a 3D scan, and where the teeth and gingival in the        3D representation are configured to be distinguished from each        other;    -   virtually designing the dental component;        where at least part of the dental component is designed based on        at least a part of the gingival in the 3D representation; and    -   obtaining a 3D virtual model of the dental component.        47. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the dental component is a restoration, a        temporary restoration or a diagnostic wax-up.        48. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the part of the dental component designed based        on at least part of the gingival is a crown, a coping, a pontic,        and/or a bridge.        49. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the method comprises designing the edge of the        dental component adjacent to the gingival part.        50. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the method comprises designing a virtual gingival        based on the gingival in the 3D representation, whereby the        dental component is designed based on the virtual gingival.        51. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the method comprises designing the virtual        gingival by using one or more planes or curves.        52. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the method comprises designing the virtual        gingival to be convex or concave in shape.        53. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the method comprises designing the virtual        gingival by means of a gingival template.        54. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the gingival template comprises at least three        points configured for sculpting the gingival.        55. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the method comprises virtually removing a tooth        from the 3D representation, where the tooth is positioned in the        place where a pontic of the dental component is configured to be        arranged.        56. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the method comprises virtually removing the tooth        before designing the virtual gingival.        57. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the method comprises virtually arranging a pontic        in the place of a tooth.        58. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the method comprises defining a gap between the        edge of the pontic and the adjacent gingival.        59. A method of designing a dental component for a region on a        patient's set of teeth, wherein the method comprises the steps        of:    -   obtaining a digital 3D representation of at least the region of        the patient's set of teeth, where the digital 3D representation        is based on a 3D scan;    -   determining at least part of a surface which is not available in        the 3D representation;    -   virtually designing a preparation in the region of the patient'        set of teeth for the dental component; and    -   obtaining a 3D virtual model of the dental component.        60. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein determining at least part of a surface not        available in the 3D representation comprises virtually designing        at least a part of the dental component.        61. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the surface which is not available in the 3D        representation is at least a part of the dental component being        designed.        62. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the surface which is not available in the 3D        representation is an existing part of patient's set of teeth.        63. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein determining at least part of a surface which is        not available in the 3D representation comprises determining a        proximal side of a tooth.        64. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein determining at least part of a surface which is        not available in the 3D representation comprises determining a        sub-gingival tooth part.        65. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein determining at least part of a surface which is        not available in the 3D representation is based on the 3D        representation.        66. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein determining at least part of a surface which is        not available in the 3D representation is based on the shape of        neighbor teeth, and/or based on a default restoration.        67. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein determining at least part of a surface which is        not available in the 3D representation is based on estimation by        extrapolation of the 3D representation of the tooth.        68. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the virtual design of at least part of dental        component and/or of the preparation is based on at least part of        the surface which is not available in the 3D representation.        69. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the preparation is designed first, and at least        part of the dental component is then designed based on the        preparation.        70. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the dental component is automatically derived        when the preparation is designed.        71. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein at least part of the dental component is designed        first, and the preparation is then designed based on the at        least part of the dental component.        72. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the preparation is automatically derived when at        least part of the dental component is designed.        73. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the preparation is designed or derived from the        internal part of the dental component, such as the internal part        of a crown.        74. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the dental component is a restoration and/or a        temporary restoration and/or a diagnostic wax-up.        75. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the temporary restoration and/or restoration is a        crown, a bridge, an implant and/or a veneer.        76. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the crown comprises an internal part and an        external part.        77. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the shape of the internal part of the crown is        equal to the shape of the preparation.        78. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein a cement space is defined between the internal        part of the crown and the preparation.        79. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the method further comprises designing structures        in the inside surface of the crown.        80. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the structures are shaped as grooves.        81. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the method further comprises determining and        visualizing a virtual margin line.        82. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the method further comprises determining the        virtual margin line from the 3D representation of the region of        the patient's set of teeth.        83. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the method further comprises arranging the        virtual margin line to lie on the determined surface which was        not available in the 3D representation.        84. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the method further comprises connecting the        virtual preparation with relevant available and/or estimated        parts of a tooth in the region of the patient's set of teeth.        85. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the method further comprises virtually snapping        the preparation to the surface of the least one tooth in the        region of the patient's set of teeth.        86. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the preparation design is free-form designed,        designed based on original tooth shape, designed based on the        design of the dental component such as a crown, is a default        design, is a parametric or algorithmic design, and/or is from a        library.        87. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the preparation design is based on which kind of        tooth that is to be prepared, such as a molar tooth, a premolar        tooth, or an anterior tooth.        88. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the method further comprises designing the        internal and/or external part of the crown based on the original        tooth in the region of the patient's set of teeth.        89. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the dental component is adapted to be attached in        the region on the patient's set of teeth, after a physical        preparation is performed on at least one tooth in the region on        the patients' set of teeth.        90. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the method further comprises determining a        preparation guide for the dentist prior to preparing the teeth.        91. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the method further comprises performing a virtual        segmentation of at least part of the set of teeth.        92. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the method further comprises virtually cutting        out the at least one tooth in the region of the patient's set of        teeth.        93. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the method further comprises determining an        insertion direction of the at least one tooth in the region of        the patient's set of teeth.        94. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the dental component is a temporary restoration,        and the method further comprises designing a final restoration        based on the design of the temporary restoration.        95. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the method further comprises transferring the        design of the temporary restoration into a design of a        restoration by means of aligning the design of the temporary        restoration with a 3D scan of the patient's prepared teeth.        96. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the temporary design is modified prior to the        transfer.        97. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, where the temporary design is a one-layer design, and        wherein the one-layer temporary design is converted to a        two-layer restoration design.        98. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the method further comprises performing        validation scanning in the mouth of the patient with an        intra-oral scanner while performing the preparation procedure        according to the virtual design for validating that the        preparation is performed correct according to the preparation        guide.        99. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the validation scanning provides a real time        validation.        100. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the 3D scan is an intra-oral scan of at least        part of the patient's set of teeth, a scan of at least part of        an impression of the patient's set of teeth, and/or a scan of at        least part of a model of the patient's set of teeth.        101. The method according to any one or more of the preceding        items, wherein the 3D scan is performed by means of laser light        scanning, white light scanning, probe-scanning, X-ray scanning,        and/or CT scanning.        102. A computer program product comprising program code means        for causing a data processing system to perform the method of        any one of the preceding items when said program code means are        executed on the data processing system.        103. A computer program product according to the previous item,        comprising a computer-readable medium having stored there on the        program code means.        104. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing thereon a        computer program, where said computer program is configured for        causing computer-assisted data processing to perform the method        of any one of items 1 to 100, when the program code means are        executed on the data processing system        105. A system for designing a dental component for a region on a        patient's set of teeth, wherein the system comprises:    -   means for obtaining a digital 3D representation of at least the        region of the patient's set of teeth, where the digital 3D        representation is based on a 3D scan;    -   means for determining at least part of a surface which is not        available in the 3D representation;    -   means for virtually designing a preparation in the region of the        patient' set of teeth for the dental component; and    -   means for obtaining a 3D virtual model of the dental component.        106. A system for designing a dental component for at least a        region of a patient's set of teeth, wherein the system        comprises:    -   means for obtaining a digital 3D representation of at least the        region of the patient's set of teeth, where the digital 3D        representation is based on a 3D scan, and where the teeth and        gingival in the 3D representation are configured to be        distinguished from each other;    -   means for virtually designing the dental component;        where at least part of the dental component is designed based on        at least a part of the gingival in the 3D representation; and    -   means for obtaining a 3D virtual model of the dental component.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for generating a 3D virtual modelof a dental component for a region of a patient's set of teeth, wherethe dental component comprises a temporary bridge restoration or adiagnostic wax-up bridge, wherein the dental component comprises crownsand at least one pontic, wherein the method comprises: obtaining adigital 3D representation of the set of teeth, where the digital 3Drepresentation is based on a 3D scan of a pre-prepared configuration ofthe set of teeth; virtually sectioning the part of the digital 3Drepresentation corresponding to the teeth in said region using at leastone 3D sectioning spline; determining a jaw-facing surface for thedental component, where the jaw-facing surface is configured for facinga proposed surface which is not yet available in the digital 3Drepresentation of the pre-prepared set of teeth, wherein the proposedsurface represents a surface after preparation of the set of teeth; andcombining the digital 3D representation of the set of teeth with avirtual diagnostic wax-up to generate the virtual model of the dentalcomponent.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the jaw-facingsurface comprises the jaw-facing surface of the pontic of said dentalcomponent.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the jaw-facingsurface comprises the jaw-facing surface of a least one of the crowns ofsaid dental component.
 4. The method according to claim 1, whereindetermining the jaw-facing surface comprises estimating at least a partof the surface which is not available in the 3D representation.
 5. Themethod according to claim 1, further comprising determining at leastpart of the inter-proximal surfaces of the virtually sectioned teeth,and where the 3D sectioning spline for a tooth is adapted to extend overat least one inter-proximal surface of that tooth.
 6. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the method comprises virtually removingone or more teeth from the digital 3D representation, such as a toothwhich is to be replaced by the pontic or a tooth which is to be preparedfor accepting a crown.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein themethod comprises generating a virtual preparation for the tooth or avirtual gingival.
 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein thevirtual gingival is generated at the position in the digital 3Drepresentation corresponding to the position at which the pontic is tobe arranged.
 9. The method according to claim 7, wherein at least a partof the dental component is designed based on the virtual gingival. 10.The method according to claim 7, wherein the method comprises replacingthe virtually removed tooth with the virtual preparation or the virtualgingival in the digital 3D representation of the set of teeth.
 11. Themethod according to claim 7, wherein the jaw-facing surface of thepontic is shaped according to the virtual gingival at the position inthe digital 3D representation corresponding to where the pontic is to bearranged.
 12. The method according to claim 7, wherein the virtualgingival is generated based on the digital 3D representation, or isselected from a library of gingival profile templates, or is generatedby freeform modeling using flexible sculpt tools.
 13. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the method comprises providing adiagnostic wax-up for the teeth of the dental component and generating a3D virtual combined model by virtually replacing one or more teeth ofthe digital 3D representation with teeth according to the virtualdiagnostic wax-up.
 14. The method according to claim 1, wherein at leastone anatomical surface of the 3D virtual model of the dental componentis derived from the shape of the teeth in the pre-prepared configurationor from the virtual diagnostic wax-up.
 15. The method according to claim1, wherein the crown parts of the dental component are shaped accordingto an egg-shell configuration.
 16. A non-transitory computer readablemedium encoded with a program to cause a computer to execute a methodfor generating a 3D virtual model of a dental component for a region ofa patient's set of teeth, where the dental component comprises atemporary bridge restoration or a diagnostic wax-up bridge, such thatthe dental component comprises crowns and at least one pontic, saidmethod comprising: obtaining a digital 3D representation of the set ofteeth, where the digital 3D representation is based on a 3D scan of apre-prepared configuration of the set of teeth; virtually sectioning thepart of the digital 3D representation corresponding to the teeth in saidregion using at least one 3D sectioning spline; determining a jaw-facingsurface for the dental component, where the jaw-facing surface isconfigured for facing a proposed surface which is not yet available inthe digital 3D representation of the pre-prepared set of teeth, whereinthe proposed surface represents a surface after preparation of the setof teeth; and combining the digital 3D representation of the set ofteeth with a virtual diagnostic wax-up to generate the virtual model ofthe dental component.
 17. The non-transitory computer readable mediumaccording to claim 16, wherein the method comprises determining thejaw-facing surface by estimating at least a part of the surface which isnot available in the 3D representation.
 18. The non-transitory computerreadable medium according to claim 16, wherein the method comprisesvirtually removing one or more teeth from the digital 3D representation,such as a tooth which is to be replaced by a pontic or a tooth which isto be prepared for accepting a crown.
 19. The non-transitory computerreadable medium according to claim 16, wherein the method comprisesshaping the jaw-facing surface of a pontic according to a virtualgingival at the position in the digital 3D representation correspondingto where the is to be arranged.
 20. The non-transitory computer readablemedium according to claim 16, wherein the method comprises providing adiagnostic wax-up for the teeth of the dental component and generating a3D virtual combined model by virtually replacing one or more teeth ofthe digital 3D representation with teeth according to the virtualdiagnostic wax-up.
 21. The non-transitory computer readable mediumaccording to claim 16, further comprising determining at least part ofthe inter-proximal surfaces of the virtually sectioned teeth.